October Check-In: Reacting to Recent 2028 Commits in New England

A recent run on October commits in the '28 has resulted in several new players being taken off the board. However, things are set to slow down as more fall tournaments kick off around the region and the rest of the country. As scores of other players fight for their places in the second phase of this window, these five players have made their mark and chosen their program. Let's take a closer look at which schools they chose and how they fit.    Hojnacki's most obvious attribute is his size. Although he is often photographed hunched down and in position to guard any attackman that dares to dodge on him, when he's completely upright and running with the ball, it's like seeing a deer flit through the woods. Tall and fast is one thing, but mean and laterally crab-like is quite another. Hojnacki does look a little bit like Joe Fletcher, so Loyola makes a ton of sense. He probably isn't even done growing, so he could end up being taller and stronger by the time he gets to pull on the Green and Grey. Hojnacki is also probably the final top-level defenseman off the board in this wave.     A shifty and skittery dodger, White is at his best setting up a dodge from X and dusting his defenseman. What happens next is one of three things: 1. A pass that beats the first slide and results in an immediate shot 2. A defenseman sliding too early as White cuts underneath to finish 3. A bounce out at GLE that opens up White's side of the defense   Those are all favorable outcomes that any coach would want their offensive recruit to facilitate. Even if he's not deployed behind the cage, White has made it clear that he can wrong-foot any style of defender. That makes him super valuable for his chosen institution, Holy Cross. It's a great pickup for the Crusaders, who are constantly hunting for impact initiators.     If you're looking for a player who can speed clear the ball late in the game, you want to look down your bench and see Malloy. The dude just knows how to move downhill and in a straight line with minimal disruption. Malloy is going to get to where he needs to be, even if you throw all three attackmen at him on the ride. On ball, he has a stalker-ish presence, getting up in his opponent's face and daring them to beat him with speed or power. All those traits bode well for him at the next level, where he will be competing for Hofstra - a team that is well renowned for its ability to develop and produce high-level shortsticks.     Fuller has all the qualities that you want from an offensive midfielder. He can get down the alley with power; he has a heavy shot, and he can initiate on either side of the field. The most recent addition to Fairfield's second-wind recruiting effort this fall, Fuller represents a move towards higher-profile players under the new coaching regime, headlined by new head coach John Odierna. More players with New England ties who will want to play right away. Fuller fits that mold and is still improving; in two years, he may be the steal of this very stacked Stags class.     The most recent commit on this list, Dowling may not be as familiar to people outside of the Massachusetts public school community, but he is an integral part of Andover's offense. An All-Conference selection, he was a big part of Andover's 11-6 season last spring. Dowling is the kind of playmaker who does not rush through things, which is rare for players at this age. He knows he doesn't have to dodge through three guys to get a better shot, but he can also do that if it's absolutely necessary. He's also got the grit that you need to perform at Garber Field and is a natural fit for UMass under Kyle Smith.

A recent run on October commits in the '28 has resulted in several new players being taken off the board. However, things are set to slow down as more fall tournaments kick off around the region and the rest of the country. As scores of other players fight for their places in the second phase of this window, these five players have made their mark and chosen their program. Let's take a closer look at which schools they chose and how they fit.

Andrew Hojnacki

HEIGHT 6'4"

WEIGHT 180

POS D

CLASS 2028

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Andrew Hojnacki

State: Connecticut

School: New Canaan

Club: Eclipse

Hojnacki's most obvious attribute is his size. Although he is often photographed hunched down and in position to guard any attackman that dares to dodge on him, when he's completely upright and running with the ball, it's like seeing a deer flit through the woods. Tall and fast is one thing, but mean and laterally crab-like is quite another. Hojnacki does look a little bit like Joe Fletcher, so Loyola makes a ton of sense. He probably isn't even done growing, so he could end up being taller and stronger by the time he gets to pull on the Green and Grey. Hojnacki is also probably the final top-level defenseman off the board in this wave.